Your kids and Facebook
Facebook is wildly popular with teenagers all over the world, but do you know what your son or daughter is revealing on the social networking site? Common Sense Media has put together a video tutorial for parents on the “Facebook ABCs.”
Most parents don’t know that teens must be at least 13 years of age to have a Facebook page. Unfortunately, signing up for Facebook is on the honor system so access is easy if a kid simply types in a fake birthdate. Parents can ask their children if they’re using Facebook, but not all kids will admit to having a presence, or even two, on the social networking site.
The tutorial at www.commonsensemedia.org/tips/Facebook-ABCs/ shows parents how to search through a computer’s browser history, looking for Facebook usage. The tutorial discusses Facebook privacy settings and explains the dangers of the social networking site. Parents are also given tips on how to find a teen’s “secret” Facebook identity. Watching the tutorial will certainly result in talking points for discussion at the dinner table.
Family Internet safety
Comcast Corporation, the second largest US Internet service provider has expanded its online resources focusing on family Internet safety. The resources are located at www.comcast.net/security, toward the bottom right side of the web page in the section titled, “Protect Your Family.”
For parents, Comcast has a new Frequently Asked Questions section written by Dr. Michael Rich, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. There’s also a downloadable brochure for parents called, “How to Talk to Your Kids About Internet Safety,” and there’s an “Internet Safety Contract” for parents and their children, designed to help families establish an open dialogue about Internet safety and set ground rules for the use of the Internet both inside and outside of the home. For kids, the site has a quiz to take to see if youngsters understand what’s required to be “Internet Safe,” plus games and activities to help them improve their Internet safety IQ.
Plan together for emergencies
When families are faced with a disaster, whether it’s a fire, flood or an act of terrorism, emergency readiness can ensure that children are protected physically and psychologically and will be better able to cope with the situation. With that in mind, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, has created “Let’s Get Ready! Planning Together for Emergencies.”
This initiative aims to help families with young children between the ages of two and five prepare for an emergency with basic information and ways in which they can best respond to an emergency. This aids children in developing a sense of resilience and self-confidence. The Let’s Get Ready! kits are available to download online at www.sesamestreet.org/ready and www.ready.gov/KIDS/sesame/.
Let’s Get Ready! offers strategies to confront emergencies, helping families understand that having a family plan and an emergency kit is useful for responding to any type of disaster. Through the initiative, families learn that a plan enables them to operate as a unit with the whole family's well-being in mind, even if they’re not in the same place.
Your kids and Facebook
Facebook is wildly popular with teenagers all over the world, but do you know what your son or daughter is revealing on the social networking site? Common Sense Media has put together a video tutorial for parents on the “Facebook ABCs.”
Most parents don’t know that teens must be at least 13 years of age to have a Facebook page. Unfortunately, signing up for Facebook is on the honor system so access is easy if a kid simply types in a fake birthdate. Parents can ask their children if they’re using Facebook, but not all kids will admit to having a presence, or even two, on the social networking site.
The tutorial at www.commonsensemedia.org/tips/Facebook-ABCs/ shows parents how to search through a computer’s browser history, looking for Facebook usage. The tutorial discusses Facebook privacy settings and explains the dangers of the social networking site. Parents are also given tips on how to find a teen’s “secret” Facebook identity. Watching the tutorial will certainly result in talking points for discussion at the dinner table.
Family Internet safety
Comcast Corporation, the second largest US Internet service provider has expanded its online resources focusing on family Internet safety. The resources are located at www.comcast.net/security, toward the bottom right side of the web page in the section titled, “Protect Your Family.”
For parents, Comcast has a new Frequently Asked Questions section written by Dr. Michael Rich, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. There’s also a downloadable brochure for parents called, “How to Talk to Your Kids About Internet Safety,” and there’s an “Internet Safety Contract” for parents and their children, designed to help families establish an open dialogue about Internet safety and set ground rules for the use of the Internet both inside and outside of the home. For kids, the site has a quiz to take to see if youngsters understand what’s required to be “Internet Safe,” plus games and activities to help them improve their Internet safety IQ.
Plan together for emergencies
When families are faced with a disaster, whether it’s a fire, flood or an act of terrorism, emergency readiness can ensure that children are protected physically and psychologically and will be better able to cope with the situation. With that in mind, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, has created “Let’s Get Ready! Planning Together for Emergencies.”
This initiative aims to help families with young children between the ages of two and five prepare for an emergency with basic information and ways in which they can best respond to an emergency. This aids children in developing a sense of resilience and self-confidence. The Let’s Get Ready! kits are available to download online at www.sesamestreet.org/ready and www.ready.gov/KIDS/sesame/.
Let’s Get Ready! offers strategies to confront emergencies, helping families understand that having a family plan and an emergency kit is useful for responding to any type of disaster. Through the initiative, families learn that a plan enables them to operate as a unit with the whole family's well-being in mind, even if they’re not in the same place.